I ain’t gon’ lie, his voice made him even sexier. It wasn’t super deep, but it held authority that made you listen. I was ready to sit down next to Mixie’s ass just ‘cause he said so.
Hiding my smirk, I sashayed into the exam room helping Faheem to get ready. He didn’t say anything else to me, and I didn’t speak to him any more than I had to. I was ready to get this over and get the hell off of work.
****
I told myself I wasn’t going to go over to my parents house. I was going to let them figure their own shit out. That was until I got a call from the Beaumont City police asking if I could come get one of my parents before they both went to jail. So, at twelve in the middle of the night, in my pajamas and bonnet on my head, I was pulling up at my parents’ house. Sure enough, there were two police cars parked in front of my childhood home. Nancy, my mom, was standing on the porch in a pink fluffy robe, rollers in her hair, hands flying all over the place as she talked to the officer.
This shit is embarrassing.
Groaning, I got out my white Nissan Rogue slamming the door. I stalked up the stairs of my parents’ porch.
“Hey, I’m Juniper,” I said to the cop who looked relieved to see me.
“I’m Sergeant Dunn. I called you. Uhh, I’m not sure if you know, but we’re at your parents’ house quite often. We don’t really want to take either one of them to jail. No one got handsput on them, just a bunch of yelling. Disturbing the peace. We need them to separate for the nigh-”
“I ain’t going no fucking where. This my house.” My mom drunkenly jammed her finger into her chest, interrupting Sergeant Dunn, who looked annoyed. “I pay the bills. Take that no-good-ass nigga with you, Juni.”
“Ma, please be quiet before you get locked up.” I was exasperated with this entire situation.
“I’m not shutting shit up. Why I always gotta leave, huh? That nigga started with me! He mad, and I don’t give a fuck about the shit no mo’! This my house!” My mom continued her drunken rant.
“If you can’t get her under control, I’m going to have to take her in,” Sergeant Dunn sternly said.
“Where is my dad?” I asked the sergeant.
“He said he was going on a walk until she leaves.”
“Let’s go, Mom. I’m not in the mood for this. If you go to jail, you gon’ have to sit there ‘cause I'm not coming to get you.” I gave my mom a look to let her know I was serious. We had a stare off with each other before my mom blew out hot air, throwing her hands up. She stomped down the steps in her tattered house shoes. It was crazy looking at my mom and how life had literally stolen her beauty from her. All the fighting and drinking had caught up with my mom.
“This is bullshit,” my mom spat at me once we were both in the car and I was pulling off.
“Who you telling?” I smartly replied, rolling my eyes.
“Who the fuck you rolling yo’ eyes at, Juniper mutha fucking Lee Weaver? I’m yo’ mama, I’ll still knock yo ass the fuck out.” My mom drunkenly waved her finger in my face.
I had more respect for my mom because she had more moments of showing me love than my father. They were rare andfar in between, but Nancy had a little more of a maternal side to her.
“My bad, Mom. I’m just tired of y’all arguing every other day.” I tried to hide the annoyance I was feeling.
“Me too. That nigga said he forgave me, but he’s a damn liar. I’m so tired of Clive's ass. He ain’t shit,” my mom said, shaking her head.
“Then leave him,” I said matter of factly. I had no clue what my mama was talking about. The topic of my dad forgiving my mom for something was a recurring argument. Whatever my mom did happened before I was born, and I didn’t care to find out either. It wouldn’t make a difference; they weren’t going to leave each other.
My mom gave me a blank expression then she busted out laughing at me. I looked at her like she’d lost her mind. “I ain’t leaving my man. He can be mad all he wants, but that’s my nigga.”
“Alright, Mama. Whatever you say.” I said my peace. There wasn’t no use in trying to convince her of anything.
Turning up the car radio, I drowned out my mama’s drunk muttering until I made it home. My bed was calling my name.
Chapter 2
Faheem Banks
A Couple Days Later
Icouldn’t wait to get this dumb ass shit off my arm. My ignorant ass broke my hand splitting a nigga in his face. In the line of business my family ran in, showing mercy left you broke. A nigga like me could never be broke. My dad, Big Frank, got it out the mud so his kids would never have to struggle. For that, I would always be grateful to my OG, but that didn’t mean I had an easy life either. My baby sister, Frankee, she got everything she wanted handed to her. My dad felt like since she was a girl, she shouldn’t have to lift a finger. I fucked with that. Frankee deserved the world, and as long as I had breath in my body, she’d have that. Between me and my dad, we set the bar so high for any nigga tryna be in her life, that she barely dated. Not saying Frankee was a saint, ‘cause sis was hell on wheels forreal. We just knew when she finally brought a nigga around, he’d be the real deal.
For as spoiled as Frankee was, she was humble as fuck. Dad might have given her the world, but he made sure she knew that life could change at the flip of a dime. Frankee wasn’t in the family business, but she had her own hustle. She owned a hair salon that was her pride and joy. Recently, she’d been getting into real estate, I think she was finna go to school for it. Needless to say, Frankee had her own money, but my dad and I still spoiled her.
